Gratitude for LIFE (Col 1:3-5) by Fr. Vince Bertrand

04 Sep Gratitude for LIFE (Col 1:3-5) by Fr. Vince Bertrand

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB).  Leaders.  Guest Authors.
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“We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the holy ones because of the hope reserved for you in heaven.” ~ (Col 1:3-5) (full readings)
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Father Vince’s Reflections:  I am greatly honored to offer this devotion with my fellow LIFE Runners around the country and world!  It has truly been a blessing to be part of this awesome apostolate which gives a powerful witness to Christ and to LIFE.  Every week I offer one Mass for LIFE Runners, holding each of you in my heart and lifting your ministry for LIFE up in special prayers of thanksgiving.  Every week I unite with you in prayer for LIFE as I pray the Respect Life Rosary, as together we work to bring about a greater respect for life from conception through natural death in our local communities, our nation, and our world.  Over the past 35 years, I have been greatly blessed to serve in the leadership of the Pro-Life ministry, and have seen great strides in building a nation and world with a stronger respect for LIFE.  Thanks be to God, I was blessed to work with religious and government leaders in closing the two abortion clinics in southern Missouri at Springfield and Cape Girardeau.  We have been blessed to work with many wonderful ministries and organizations over the years that have helped better educate society on the LIFE issues, most especially abortion, helped elect pro-life government leaders and pass pro-life legislation, helped close abortion clinics and build pro-life pregnancy care centers for those with challenging pregnancy situations.  And 40 years after the tragic 1973 decisions legalizing abortion in America, my heart is full of thanksgiving and hope as I look back over the progress.  And now my heart is full of gratitude for all our fellow LIFE Runners, for your awesome witness for LIFE through runs/walks, your centering this apostolate in prayer and doing all for Christ, and your participating in other wonderful pro-life organizations like 40 Days for Life.  Your love for Christ and for LIFE, your courage and enthusiasm, your prayer and support for one another, is truly an inspiration for this old Pro-Life warrior.  So today, and each day, my heart is full of thanksgiving and love for each of my fellow LIFE Runners as I pray for you!
* Fr. Bertrand is founding chaplain of the Springfield, Missouri Life Runner chapter.  He has been active in Pro-Life ministry since founding a Life Advocates organization at Missouri State University, Springfield, in the 1970s, and serving on the national board of the National Youth Pro-Life Coalition.  He has served as a leader in Pro-Life ministry at the diocesan, state, and national levels, and is director of the international organization Marian Advocates for Life which promotes the praying of the Respect Life Rosary.  He is a priest and canon lawyer of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau.
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Faith Challenge:  One of the most important ways that we as LIFE Runners can witness to LIFE is by being grateful for the awesome gift of Life; our own life, the lives of our LIFE Runner teammates, the lives of our family and friends. By practicing the virtue of gratitude every day; we remain strong in our faith and keep a joyful heart; and we help those around us, including our anti-Life friends, come to a deeper awareness and appreciation for the gift of their own lives and the lives of those they may harm or destroy.  May we as LIFE Runners never forget to thank God each morning for the wonderful gift of a new day of life and conclude each day by thanking God for the blessings of the day, as we together nurture a world with a greater appreciation for the gift of Life.  Thank you dear Lord for the Gift of Life…help our anti-Life friends to have a greater appreciation and respect for the gift of Life from conception through natural death!
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Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, LifeNews, American Family, Vatican, Project Rachel.
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Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion. LIFE Runners Creed & Patron Saint. Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
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Feast Day:  Saint Rose of Viterbo.
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Faith Quote: “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” ~ G.K. Chesterton
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Through Christ Our Lord,
Fr. Vince